Hotel owner blames USAF for foreclosure

Hope Hotel is in foreclosure; owner plans to reorganize under Chapter 11.

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE — An owner of the Hope Hotel & Conference Center said Friday, June 4, the property is in foreclosure and alleged the U.S. Air Force for years undermined his business through contract violations.

David Meyers of Naples, Fla., claims the Air Force since 2005 has been directing travelers off base to privately run hotels, lowering the Hope Hotel’s occupancy rate from 73 percent to 40 percent and “effectively killing our business.”

Meyers claimed the Air Force is contractually required to use the Hope Hotel as its first choice to house military and civilians doing business at the base. Meyers made those claims after 5 p.m. Friday.

Base spokesman Derek Kaufman said he couldn’t reach base officials on Friday night to comment on Meyers’ claims, but said the allegations against the base are “factually inaccurate.” Kaufman said officials could comment next week.

The hotel plans to reorganize under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection that will be sought in Dayton over the weekend, Meyers said. During the reorganization, the hotel will operate as usual, Meyers said.

Meyers said he’s hopeful the Pentagon will remedy the situation by honoring the lodging contract, and said he doesn’t believe the Air Force’s actions are deliberate.

On its website, hopehotel.com, the hotel claims to be the only privately owned hotel operated on Air Force property, an arrangement that required an act of Congress.

About the Author